Apparatus for conditioning grain or the like



Jan. 30, 1934. s. G. WALKER APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN OR THE LIKEFiled July 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

IN1/ENTOR- ,Samwel Q WwW/wf;

W1 TNESSES:

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A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 30, 1934. l s. G. WALKER 1,945,242

y APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN OR THE LIKE Filed July l5, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIHIIIHHHI um IIIIIHIIHHIIIIHII ammi: me

I INVENTOR- Smw/L Q Mx/Ural;

W I TNESSES:

Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN ORTHE LIKE Samuel G. Walker, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The PennsylvaniaRailroad Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication July 13, 1932. Serial No. 622,234

3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to apparatus for conditioning grain orsimilar materials, and more particularly to apparatus for conditioningsuch material by screening and aeration incident to its passage througha discharge chute.

In the shipping and handling of grain, it has been found that periodiccleansing of the grain with elimination oi dust, weevil and otherforeign matter and exposure to fresh air adds materially to itspreservation. It is important that stored grain be thoroughly aerated torelieve it of mustiness or to reduce its temperature, and for thispurpose the grain must be so mixed with the air that all of itsparticles are aerated for a short time at least.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide simpleand efficient apparatus for conditioning grain or similar materials byscreening and aeration, while it is being discharged from a place ofstorage, such as from the top of a grain elevator, to a car, conveyor,or the like.

A further object of this'invention is to provide in such an apparatusmeans for regulating the amount of treatment to which the grain is to besubjected, this being effected by cutting out partially or completelythe screening action.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in such anapparatus means for effecting an orderly disposition of waste andforeign materials separated from grain incident to its conditioning.

Still other and more specific objects and advantages characterizing rnyinvention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of oneembodiment or example of the invention, having reference to theaccompanying drawings, whereof:

Fig. I represents a perspective View of the upper portion of grainconditioning apparatus of my invention with the outside covering brokenaway at certain areas to show clearly the position of the inclinedplanes therein.

Fig. II represents an end View of the upper portion of the same, withthe outside covering 'partially removed to show the interior; and,

Fig. III represents an end view of the complete apparatus used incombination with a belt conveyor.

With reference to the drawings, the grain conditioning apparatus thereshown comprises generally a rectangular framework 1 enclosed at thesides by a covering 2 and interiorly fitted with a series of inclinedscreens 3 and waste plates 4, which are arranged alternatively to form azigzag downward path from the top to the bottom of the framework. Thescreens 3 and plates 4 form successive stages of a chute with thescreens and plates of each stage disposed in parallel arrangement with arelatively wide gap therebeo tween. The frame 1 may be made of anystrong durable material and in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention it is made up of angle bars. The .traine covering 2 is made ofa wire meshed cloth with meshes sized to allow the free passage of airthrough the apparatus and yet retain the material being conditioned.Each inclined screening piane 3 comprises a frame 5 covered with wiremeshed cloth, with meshes sized. to prevent the passage oi the grain, atthe same 79 time allowing the foreign matter, such as dust and weevil,to drop through it to the waste plate 4 immediately below it. Thescreening planes are hinged to the frame 1 by hinges 6, and they areheld at a particular inclination by chains or wires 7. Each waste plate4 comprises an imperforate plate attached by hinges 8 to the lower edgeof the screening plane 3 next above it, and in its normal position leadsto a waste trough 9 at the sides or' the framework.

In the normal or down position, the lower edge of each waste plate 4rests on a supporting plate 10 leading into the waste trough 9. Eachwaste plate 4 may be independently swung upward behind the screen 3 towhich it is hinged. In the 8 raised position, each waste plate 4 is heldat against the underside oi the screen above it by a 'catch ll, asindicated in broken lines in the third stage from the top of theframework in Fig. 1I. In order to adjust the waste plates 4, accessthrough the frame covering 2 is afforded by the side doors l2 shown inFig. III.

A spout 13 leads to the top of the framework 1 and serves as a meansi'or discharging the grain l. to be treated onto the iirst screen 3 ofthe zigzag chute. The spout 13 is provided with a dispersing plate 14for distributing the grain across the width of the top of the framework.The waste troughs 9 are fastened to the sides of the 1700 frame 1, onefor each waste plate 4. From the bottom of each trough 9, a waste pipe15 leads into the waste trough next below, and the lowermost waste pipe15 at each side of the framework leads into a waste pit 16 beneath theframework. 105

The grain flowing out of the apparatus at the bottom is caused to fallon a belt conveyor 17, after its passage over an imperforate dischargeplate 18. The belt conveyor 17 shown represents of course, only oneexample of how the condi- 1.110

eo v

tioned grain may be conducted away from the bottom of the framework.

The operation of the grain conditioning apparatus will be apparent fromthe above description. The grain flows from the spout 13 and isdispersed over the top screening plane 3 by the dispersing plate 14. Asit vflows down the screening plate 3, the grain is exposed to the airand the foreign matter falls between the meshes to the waste plate 4below. From each waste plate 4 the foreign matter flows into the wastetrough 9, and from thence to a waste pipe 15. TheA waste particlespassing through the various waste troughs 9 and waste pipes 15ultimately fall into the waste pit 16. From the first screening plane 3,the grain tumbles through space, being thereby further aerated andintermixed, to the next lower screening plane 3 where'the same screeningoperation takes place. Thus the grain continues its zig-zag passage fromone screening plane through an air space to the next` lower screeningplane, until it isled by a discharge plate 18 onto the conveyor belt 17by which it is transported to a receptacle as desired.

When the screening action of a screening plane 3 is to be cut out, thewaste plate 4 fastened to the lower. edge of that particular screeningplane 3 is swung up from. its supporting plate 10, and in order to allowit to pass the frame land frame covering 2, the screening plane 3 isalso swung up. This waste plate 4 is fastened flat against the undersideof the screening plane 3 by the catch 11 preventing any screening actionof that screening plane 3. second stage from the top inl-Vig. II, at 19and 20 clearly show the hinging. actions, and how the folding. of thescreens 3 and plates 4 may be accomplished, lines 19 indicating thescreening plane 3 swungv up to allow the waste plate 4 indicated bylines 20 to clear the frame 1.

While the apparatus herein described and illustrated representsoneexample or embodiment ofM4 this invention, it will be readily,l seenthat various details of its construction may be altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as defined in the claimsheretoannexed. A `Havingthus described my invention, ,I claim:

ranged in spaced relation one above the other in The dotted lines shownat the said framework so that grain will flow by gravity from one screenthrough the intervening air space to another in a zig-zag downwardpassage, plates attached to the lower edges of said inclined screens tocatch the particles sifting through the screens and lead such materialinto said waste pipe, said plates being hinged along the lower. edges ofsaid screens whereby they may be swung upward to lie flat against theunder sides of said screens to prevent their sifting action, and meansfor locking said plates in said position against the undersides of saidscreens.

2.` Apparatus for screening grain or the like, comprising a frameworkcovered with a foraminous material which will retain the material to bescreened but permit free circulation of air therethrough, means fordischarging said material at the top of the framework, a waste pipe atthe sides of said framework, and a series of inclined screens arrangedin spaced relation one above the other so that grain will. flow bygravity down one screen and through an intervening air space to theupperedge of the next lower screen forming a zig-zag downward passage, plateshinged along the lower edges of said inclined screens to catch theparticles gifting through the screens and to lead such particles intosaid waste pipe, means for locking each said plate when swung upwardabout the hinge to be flat against the underside ofthe screenimmediately above, and means at thebottomrof said framework for carryingoff the screened material separated from said waste particles. v

3. Apparatus fo-r screening grain or the like, comprising a screenedframework, means for discharging the material to be screened at the topof said framework, a: series of inclined screens arranged in spacedrelation vertically to form a zig-zag downward passage for the materialwith jumps between screens, plates hinged along the lower edge of eachof said inclined screens to catch the particles sifting through thescreens to lead such particles to the sidey of said framework, saidplates beingv adapted to be folded upward to lie flat against the underside of said screens to prevent their sifting action, and said screensbeing hinged to the framework whereby said screens and plates may befoldedand unfolded within said screened framework, and means attachedtoeach said screen underneath its upper edge for holding said plates flatagainst the underside of said screens when swung upward to saidposition.

SAMUEL G. WALKER.

